Press for packing bank-notes or other currency



Patented July 4, 1893.

W. P. HESS. BANK NOTES OR OTHER CURRENCY.

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UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE.

\VILLIAM F. HESS, OF SAl\ FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

PRESS FOR PACKING BANK-NOTES OR OTHER CURRENCY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 500,766, dated July 4, 1893.

Application filed September 21, 1892. Serial No. 446,366. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM F. Hnss, a citizen of the United States, residing at San Francisco, in the county of San Francisco and State of California, have invented certain new and useful'lmprovements in Presses for Packing Bank-Notes and other Currency; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

In putting up paper currency in packages for transportation, it is the custom in banks to assemble the notes by hand into as compact a bundle as possible, and then secure them in packages by cords or strings. This method is objectionable because itis impossible to make a bundle which will be perfectly tight and perfectly symmetrical.

The object of my invention is to provide a device, which, when operated by hand will compress the notes into a tight even bundle from which it is impossible for any of them to escape; and also to provide means for tying the bundle while under pressure in the machine, so that the elasticity of the bundle, when the pressure is released, will draw the strings perfectly tight.

My invention consists of a novel form of press for the purposes above described, and in various details in its construction fully hereinafter described, and also shown in the accompanying drawings in which-- Figure 1,is aplan view; Fig. 2, a longitudinal section; Fig. 3, a cross section.

My machine is a box composed of solid side and end pieces A and 13, having an open top, and a bottom preferably composed of longitudinal slats 1,or,if in one picce,provided with longitudinal slots. Within this box slides a follower D, to which motion may be imparted by a screw Eworking through one end of the box, and having a crank or a hand wheel for turningit. The follower is guided by a tongue and groove connection 2, with the sides of the box.

Inside the box and upon each interior side wall, are fixed two racks F, G, having ratchet shaped teeth as shown.

H is a movable head adapted to fit within the box, and provided upon one side (at the rear) with gravity catches 3, 4, adapted to project slightly beyond its edges and engage with the ratchet teeth. The head is preferably provided with a metallic back plate to which the catches are pivoted in pairs near each end. The head may thus be moved freely forward or toward the follower, but cannot be moved in the opposite direction without taking it out of the box or lifting all the separate catches. This head, between which and the follower the notes are compressed, is used in long boxes like that shown in the drawings; but it should be stated that in short boxes for small packages the rear end of the box may supply its place, in which case the racks and catches need not be used, the notes being compressed directly between the follower and the end of the box itself. Vertical grooves 5, 6, are formed in the follower and the head H, which grooves register with the openings or slots in the bottom of the box; and the front face of the head 11 is provided above and below with grooves 7, 8, which may be caused to register with any one of a series of holes 9, in the sides of the box. WVhen preparing to pack a number of bank notes or other currency, the notes are placed looselyin the box extending transversely across, between the follower and head, and the screw is turned up compressing them to a certain extent, or else the head is pulled forward by hand to commence the pressure and begin the package. Pins or rods 10, may then be passed transversely through the holes 9, resting in the horizontal grooves 7, 8, in the head or follower D, so as to hold the notes in place while the head or follower may be moved back to make room for more loose notes.

In order to prevent the package from bulgin g while it is being compressed, I provide removable bars G, G, which fit in slots 11, in the opposite ends of the box, and bear upon the upper edges of the head and follower. When the notes are sufficiently compressed, cords or strings I are threaded down through the vertical grooves in head or follower, and through the bottom of the box, thence carried under the bundle and then threaded up through the opposite vertical slots. The notes remain under strong pressure and the cords are tied while they are in that condition. The screw is then turned back easing the pressure, when the resilience of the bundle draws the. string tight, and there remains a perfectly tight and absolutely symmetrical paokage,which when properly wrapped is ready for safe transportation.

It should be stated that by employing a removable division board having vertical grooves like those represented at 5 and 6, two packages of different sizes and denominations, or values, or two of the same size, if desired, may be made up at the same time and tied separately. The advantages of this mechanical arrangement over the 01d practice of making up packages by hand in the loose and unsymmetrical form familiar to all bankers, need no detailed recital.

What I claim is 1. In a machine for making packages of paper currency, a box having a compression head, a plunger or follower reciprocating therein, and removable transverse pins passing through the sides of the box, substantially as described.

2. In combination, with the box having a compression head, a plunger or follower reciprocating therein, transverse grooves in the follower, and removable pins passing through holes in the sides of the box in alignment with 3. A machine for making packages of paper currency consisting of a box having a slotted bottom, longitudinal racks upon the inner sides of the box, a movable follower in the box an adjustable compression head having catches to engage said racks, and vertical grooves in the head and follower registering with the slots in the box bottom, all substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

4, In combination with the box, and the movable follower working therein, the adj ustable compression head having catches engaging with racks within the box so as to prevent its movement in one direction, and one or more removable transverse pins passing through the sides of the box, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature, in presence of two witnesses, this 12th day of September, 1892.

WILLIAM F. HESS.

\Vitnesses:

L. W. SEELY, J'oHN COFFEE. 

